Hope Collegeand Calvin College both announced today that they will be adding Division-3 varsity lacrosse for the 2012-13 season. The additions will help the formation of a lacrosse league in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the home conference both schools’ sports.
The addition of these sports at Hope coincides with an announcement by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) to add lacrosse as varsity sports for both genders on the same timetable.
Both schools will discontinue their MCLA D-2 squads as the programs are promoted to the varsity level.
Tim,
Looks like there may be three teams added in 2013. Just waiting on Olivet to post. This on http://www.miaa.org/ :
“MIAA To Add Men’s, Women’s Lacrosse As Conference Sports in 2012-13
The MIAA announced today that it will add men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse as varsity conference sports, effective with the 2012-13 season, the 125th anniversary season for America’s oldest collegiate athletic conference.
Competition in men’s and women’s lacrosse will begin with the fall non-traditional season in 2012 and conclude with conference regular season and tournament play in the spring of 2013, Commissioner David Neilson said.
The addition of these sports brings to 20 the number of varsity sports the MIAA will sponsor in 2012-13, and marks the first new sports to be added to the conference’s lineup since it added women’s golf in 1991.
Seven MIAA member schools will sponsor men’s and women’s lacrosse in the 2012-13 season – Adrian, Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Olivet and Trine, Neilson said.
With the minimum of seven participating conference schools, the MIAA will receive an automatic qualification to NCAA Division III postseason competition immediately.
Founded in 1888, the MIAA is the nation’s oldest collegiate athletic conference. Member institutions are Adrian College, Albion College, Alma College, Calvin College, Hope College, Kalamazoo College, Olivet College, Saint Mary’s College and Trine University.